Light source support with a referencing element extending along two axes

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a support for a light source of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, including a zone for positioning the light source, referencing elements with respect to three given mutually transverse axes, one of the referencing elements, termed a referencing element with two portions, a first portion extending along or parallel to a first axis of the three given axes, and a second portion extending transversely relative to this first given axis.

The present reissue application is a broadening reissue of U.S. Pat. No.10,351,045, issued Jul. 16, 2019, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to the field of light source supports thatare intended to be mounted in vehicle light-emitting devices, inparticular to cooperate with a shaping optic receiving the light raysfrom the light sources that they are intended to support.

There are known vehicle light-emitting devices comprising a shapingoptic adapted to deflect the light rays coming from a particular zone inthe light-emitting device so as to confer on the light beam givenphotometrics, notably statutory photometrics.

Also, when mounting the light source in the light-emitting device, it isimportant that this light source be mounted accurately in the particularzone and in accordance with a precise orientation in the threedimensions of space.

To this end, the light source supports comprise referencing elementswith respect to three given axes transverse to one another, notablythree axes orthogonal to one another. These referencing elements areadapted to come into contact with other referencing elements disposed inthe light-emitting device. The referencing elements with respect to oneof the three given axes of the light-emitting device are adapted, whenthey are in contact with the corresponding referencing elements of thesupport, to immobilize the support with respect to that given axis andto leave the support free to move with respect to the other two axes,thus enabling adjustment on the other two given axes. These variousreferencing elements of the support and the lighting device are adaptedso that, when they are all in contact, the light source is in the givenzone.

For this to work, the light source must also be correctly positioned onthe support relative to these referencing elements of the support.

The mounting of the light source on a light-emitting support can beautomated, in particular in the case of light-emitting diodes (LED). Tothis end, a robot can be associated with an image capture device coupledto image processing means. The latter means are coupled to control meansof the robot. The vision system can comprise a single video cameracapturing images in two dimensions.

The optical axis of the objective of the video camera can be alignedwith respect to a first given axis. In the case of an LED placed on aplane surface of the support of that LED, this first given axis ispreferably an axis perpendicular to this plane surface, for example avertical axis. Because of this, the captured images will enable precisedetection of the positioning of the zone where the LED is to be placedwith respect to the other two axes and therefore relative to thereferencing elements visible in the plane including the plane surface.

However, the support can have a shape such that with an automationsystem of this kind certain referencing elements will not be visiblebecause they are aligned with a portion of the support in a directionparallel to the optical axis of the video camera. This is for examplethe case when a referencing element extending in a wall of the supportparallel to the first given axis, for example an axis perpendicular tothe surface on which the LED is placed.

Because of this, the positioning of the LED on its support will beinaccurate. Subsequently, even if the mounting of the support in thelight-emitting device is accurate, the positioning of the LED relativeto the shaping optic will be inaccurate.

The technical problem addressed by the invention is therefore to find amore accurate method of mounting a support for light sources in alighting device.

To this end, a first object of the invention is a support for a lightsource of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

-   -   a zone for positioning the light source,    -   referencing elements with respect to three given mutually        transverse axes, one of the referencing elements, termed a        referencing element with two portions, comprising:        -   a first portion extending along or parallel to a first of            the three given axes, and        -   a second portion extending transversely relative to this            first given axis.

Accordingly, by aligning a video camera capturing images in twodimensions with the first portion, or aligning it with respect to anaxis parallel to the first given axis, the second portion will bevisible to this video camera, and accurately so relative to thereferencing means.

Moreover even in the case of alignment of this referencing element withtwo portions with a portion of the support in a direction parallel tothis first given axis, the referencing element with two portions willremain visible to the video camera. This will therefore enable use of avideo camera for the accurate fixing of the LED even with supportshaving this kind of alignment, for example a support with a wallperpendicular to a positioning surface of the LED, the first portion ofthis referencing element with two portions being arranged in this wall.

The light-emitting module according to the invention can optionallycomprise one or more of the following features:

-   -   the support comprises:        -   a first surface extending transversely relative to the first            given axis and comprising said second portion and said            positioning zone, and        -   a second surface that is oriented on the side of the first            surface, is transverse to the first surface, extends along            or parallel to the first given axis and comprises said first            portion;            by transverse faces is meant faces contained in intersecting            transverse planes, these faces not necessarily intersecting;            this support enables more accurate positioning in a            light-emitting device by positioning each of the surfaces            relative to the shaping optic, for example on a support            plate for this shaping optic or directly on the latter;    -   the support comprises a wall comprising the second surface, the        first portion being a recess formed in the wall and opening onto        the second surface; just as the first portion is not visible to        a video camera with its objective aligned with the second        surface, the second portion will be visible and on positioning        the light source relative to this second portion, this second        portion will also be positioned relative to the first portion        and therefore relative to the referencing element with two        portions;    -   the first surface comprises the other referencing elements; thus        it is easier to position the light source relative to all of the        referencing elements;    -   the first surface is plane and lies in a first plane and the        second surface is plane and lies in a second plane, the first        plane and the second plane being transverse to each other,        notably substantially perpendicular to each other; this        facilitates the positioning of the support in the light-emitting        device;    -   the first surface and the second surface join via a bend or a        curved portion, said referencing element in two portions being a        hole straddling the first and second surfaces, the part of the        hole on the first surface forming said second portion of said        referencing element with two portions and the part of the hole        on the second surface forming said first portion of said        referencing element with two portions; the hole is therefore        continuous from the first surface to the second surface; this        simplifies the production of the referencing element with two        portions in the support, retaining good accuracy for the        positioning of the second portion;    -   the first portion and/or said second portion of said referencing        element with two portions is oblong; this type of hole is simple        and accurate to produce;    -   the support comprises:        -   a first part in the form of a plate and comprising the first            surface, and        -   a second part in the form of a plate comprising the second            surface, the two plates being transverse to each other;            this is a simple embodiment of a support;    -   the first part comprises at least one tongue comprising an edge        lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a second of the        three given axes; the edge thus forms said second referencing        element; this is a simple embodiment of referencing means with        respect to the second given axis also visible to a video camera        the objective of which is oriented along the first given axis;        moreover, the tongues can serve for mounting by sliding in        slideways ending at an abutment extending in a plane        substantially perpendicular to the second given axis so that at        the end of sliding the referencing with respect to the second        given axis is effected by abutment of the edges against the        abutments of the slideways;    -   the first part comprises at least three bosses forming        projections on the first surface, the summits of the bosses        being coplanar in a plane substantially perpendicular to said        first given axis; the edge therefore forms said third        referencing elements; this is a simple embodiment of referencing        means with respect to the first given axis also visible to a        video camera the objective of which is oriented along the first        given axis; these summits once in contact with coplanar surfaces        orthogonal to the first given axis will enable referencing of        the first surface with respect to the first given axis;    -   the first plate comprises at least two tongues arranged on        either side of said positioning zone, each tongue comprising an        edge lying in a plane perpendicular to a second of the three        given axes, the bosses being formed on the tongues; thus the        referencing with respect to the first given axis can be effected        by simply sliding the tongues in slideways of the light-emitting        device, each slideway comprising a groove the sliding walls of        which, against which the tongues and the bosses will slide, are        arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first        given axis;    -   the support is a plate, for example with two parts in the form        of plates as referred to above;    -   the support is a metal, notably aluminum or aluminum alloy,        plate; this also enables implementation of the function of        cooling the light source and also facilitates production of the        support;    -   the support is produced by deforming, notably by bending,        curving or pressing, a metal plate comprising a rectilinear        oblong hole extending along its length, the deformation being        affected about a given direction perpendicular to this length of        said oblong hole; thus the support is easier to produce in two        parts, with the referencing element with two portions divided        across these two parts;    -   the second surface is substantially perpendicular to a second of        the three given axes, termed the second given axis; it thus        becomes easier to position the second surface and therefore the        first surface relative to the first given axis when mounting the        support in a light-emitting device;    -   the three given axes are orthogonal to one another; this enables        easier identification of the positioning zone and also easier        referencing of the support in the light-emitting device;    -   the support comprises the light source fixed to the positioning        zone; the support is therefore ready to be mounted in a        light-emitting device according to the invention;    -   the light source is an electroluminescent light source, notably        an LED; the invention is particularly adapted to this situation,        in which the positioning of the light source is even more        important;    -   the support is a heatsink; this simplifies the design of the        support with its light source in a light-emitting module        intended to be mounted relative to a shaping optic;    -   the light source is fixed in thermal contact with the support;        this enables easy cooling of the light source, in particular in        the case of an electroluminescent light source.

The invention also consists in a vehicle light-emitting devicecomprising at least one support according to the invention.

This vehicle light-emitting device can be:

-   -   a device for lighting the road, notably a headlight or a fog        light;    -   a signaling light, notably a stop light, a daytime running        light, a night-time running light, a turn indicator;    -   an interior lighting device, namely a device for lighting the        interior of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, notably an        overhead light or a wall light.

The light-emitting device according to the invention can optionallycomprise one or more of the following features:

-   -   the light-emitting device comprises at least one shaping optic        and complementary referencing elements adapted to be in contact        with the referencing elements of the support, so that the        shaping optic receives most of the light rays emitted by the        light source and diverts them to form a given photometric beam;        mounting the support in the light-emitting device is simple,        because it suffices to bring the referencing elements into        contact so that the support according to the invention, and        therefore the light source, is correctly positioned relative to        the shaping optic;    -   said complementary referencing elements comprise a projection        extending lengthwise along or parallel to a second of the three        given axes, termed the second given axis, the referencing        element with two portions of the support being a hole in the        support, the projection extending into this hole and having        zones of contact with the edges of the hole, these contact zones        being on either side of the projection and aligned in a        direction parallel to a third of the three given axis, termed        the third given axis; thus the edges of the hole form the first        referencing means, enabling referencing with respect to the        third given axis;    -   the complementary referencing elements comprise aligned        slideways along or parallel to said second given axis, and the        support comprises tongues accommodated in these slideways and        adapted to slide in these slideways; mounting is simple;        moreover, in combination with the preceding paragraph, the hole        makes it possible to allow the degree of freedom of movement        along said second given axis, facilitating assembly;    -   the slideways comprise an end lying in a plane substantially        perpendicular to said second given axis, the support including        tongues each having an edge extending substantially        perpendicularly to said second given axis and in contact with        one of the ends; thus the referencing with respect to said        second given axis is achieved by simple sliding into abutment;    -   the support comprises at least three bosses distributed over the        tongues and the slideways comprise sliding walls extending        between the entry of the slideways and their end, these sliding        walls being substantially perpendicular to said first given axis        and oriented toward the interior of the slideway, each boss        having a summit, these summits being coplanar in a plane        substantially perpendicular to said first given axis, the        summits of the bosses being in contact with the sliding walls;        thus engaging the tongues and the bosses in the slideways        enables referencing of the positioning zone along the first        given axis;    -   said first given axis is the vertical axis, said second given        axis is the longitudinal axis, said third given axis is the        transverse axis; the support is thus positioned in the three        directions of space.

The invention also consists in a method of manufacturing a light sourcesupport, said method comprising:

-   -   a step of positioning a support comprising:        -   zone for positioning the light source,        -   referencing elements with respect to three given mutually            transverse axes, one of the referencing elements, termed a            referencing element with two portions, comprising:            -   a first portion extending along or parallel to a first                of the three given axes, and            -   a second portion extending transversely relative to this                first given axis, then    -   a step of placing a video camera facing said positioning zone so        that the optical axis of the objective of the video camera is        parallel to or aligned with said first given axis,    -   a step of capturing at least one image of the support,    -   a step of identification in the image of said second portion of        the referencing element with two portions and the other        referencing elements,    -   a step of determination of the location of the positioning zone        relative to the positions of said second portion of the        referencing element with two portions and to the positions of        the other referencing elements,    -   a step of placing the light source on said positioning zone.

This therefore enables accurate mounting of a light source on a supportaccording to the invention.

The method according to the invention can optionally comprise one ormore of the following features:

-   -   the support is a support according to the invention;    -   the placement step comprises:        -   a substep of positioning a holding member holding the light            source between the video camera and the support,        -   a substep of aligning the light source with the positioning            zone in a direction parallel to or aligned with said first            given axis,        -   a substep of moving the light source in translation toward            the positioning zone until the light source comes into            contact with the positioning zone;            this enables simple and accurately guided mounting of the            light source on the support;    -   the light source is an LED having a light-emitting surface and a        contact surface opposite its emitting surface; moreover, during        the substep of aligning the LED, the LED is also oriented so        that its contact surface is positioned facing the positioning        zone, notably perpendicularly to the first given axis; for        example an adhesive or a glue can be applied to the LED and/or        the positioning zone;    -   the step of positioning the support is preceded by a step of        shaping the support, this step comprising:        -   a substep of producing on and/or in a metal sheet a            rectilinear element elongate in a given direction, termed            the principal direction,        -   a substep of producing second and third referencing            elements,        -   a step of deforming the metal sheet in a given direction,            termed the deformation direction, to form a deformation zone            extending in the deformation direction and on the one hand            dividing the plate into a first part and a second part and            on the other hand dividing the rectilinear element into a            first portion and a second portion, the first part            comprising the positioning zone and this second portion and            the second part, which is transverse to the first part,            comprising this first portion, this first portion and this            second portion forming said referencing element with two            portions;    -   the rectilinear element is produced by drilling, machining        and/or cutting an oblong hole through the plate, the hole        forming after the deformation step the referencing element with        two portions.

According to the application, a shaping optic deviates the light raysemitted by the corresponding light source of the device so as to conferon the beam from the light-emitting device given photometriccharacteristics, notably those of a beam for lighting the road. Theshaping optic can comprise a reflector, a combination of lenses, acombination of reflectors or a combination of lenses and reflectors.

In the present application, a light-emitting light source is a lightsource employing electroluminescence. Electroluminescence is an opticaland electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response toan electrical current flowing through it or a strong electric field.This is to be distinguished from the emission of light because oftemperature (incandescence) or the action of chemical products(chemiluminescence). In the lighting field a light source of this kindis also termed a “solid state light source”.

The invention also consists in a vehicle comprising a light-emittingdevice according to the invention and notably connected to theelectrical power supply of the vehicle.

Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “front”, “rear”, “lower”, “upper”,“side”, “transverse” refer to the direction of emission of light fromthe corresponding light-emitting device.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent onreading the following detailed description of examples, for anexplanation of which see the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a light source support according to theinvention positioned relative to a shaping optic;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front of a part of alight-emitting device according to the invention comprising the supportfrom FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of a light source supportaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view from below of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 6 shows to a larger scale a part of FIG. 5 , still in perspectivebut in a different orientation.

FIG. 1 shows a support 20 in accordance with the invention for a lightsource 11, in position in a light-emitting device according to theinvention. Only the shaping optic 30 of this light-emitting device isshown.

In this example, this shaping optic is a reflector 30 having areflecting surface 30a facing toward the front and an inactive surface30b facing toward the rear.

As can be seen, the support 20 is arranged relative to this reflector 30so that the light source, here an LED 11, directs rays r1, r2 toward thereflecting surface 30a. The reflecting surface 30a is adapted to directthese rays r1, r2 in particular directions so as to form a light beamwith given photometrics, in this example a lighting beam.

In this example, the support 20 is formed by a plate comprising a firstpart 21 and a second part 22. The first part 21 and the second part 22therefore each take the form of a plate.

In this example, the first part 21 is arranged horizontally when thesupport 20 and the light-emitting device 1 are in position in thevehicle.

The first part 21 comprises a first surface of the support, termed thelower surface 23. This lower surface 23 is plane and oriented on theside of the second part 22.

In this example, the LED 11 is arranged on this lower surface 23 andabove the reflecting surface 30.

The second part 22 also takes the form of a plane plate, issubstantially vertical and extends transversely.

The second part 22 comprises a second surface of the support, termed thefront surface 24. This front surface 24 is plane and orientedtransversely and vertically facing the inactive surface 30b. It istherefore orthogonal to the first surface 23.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 , the light-emitting device 1 according to theinvention comprises a housing closed by an outer lens, this housing andthis outer lens not being shown in FIG. 2 . Inside this housing, thelight-emitting device 1 also comprises a plate 46 supporting threereflectors 30, 30′, 30″, namely a central reflector 30, a left-handreflector 30″ and a right-hand reflector 30′.

In this example, the plate 46 is formed in one piece with thesereflectors 30, 30′, 30″. In particular the plate 46 can be made in onepiece with and of the same material as these reflectors 30, 30′, 30″.

Here, the plate 46 comprises separator walls 47 separating thereflectors 30, 30′, 30″ from one another. These separator walls 47 canbe masks, as shown here.

A first support 20, a second support 20′ and a third support 20″ arearranged at the level of the central reflector 30, the right-handreflector 30′ and the left-hand reflector 30″, respectively. Each ofthese supports 20, 20′, 20″ is equipped with an LED 11.

In this example, the first and third supports 20, 20″ and their LED areidentical. Therefore, they carry the same references in the subsequentfigures. On the other hand, the second support 20′ and its LED aredifferent. However this example is without limitation, and for exampleeach support could carry a different LED.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , at the level of each support 20, 20′, 20″are chosen three given axes X, Y, Z along which are arranged referencingelements adapted to reference the positioning of the support 20, 20′,20″ relative to the corresponding reflector 30, 30′, 30″ and along thesethree given axes X, Y, Z. In this example these given axes are chosen tobe perpendicular to one another and cross at the level of thepositioning zone of the LED 11. They therefore form an orthonomic systemof axes at the level of this positioning zone and at the level of theLED 11 when it is placed thereon.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 the support 20 is upside-down relative to the verticalaxis Z compared to its orientation in which it is intended to be used inthe light-emitting device shown in FIG. 2 . In fact, the orientation inFIGS. 3 and 4 corresponds in this example to the orientation conferredon the support 20 on a production line, before mounting the LED 11.

Therefore, the upper face of the support 20 is not visible in FIGS. 3and 4 .

In this example, the support 20 takes the form of a pressed metal plate.The latter is initially plane and the various holes that can be seen init can be drilled or machined before this plate is shaped to form thesupport 20 shown.

Here, the plate has been deformed, for example pressed or bent, so as toform two transverse parts, namely the first part 21 and the second part22. As can be seen in these FIGS. 3 and 4 , the two parts 21 and 22 arenot entirely adjacent but are joined together by a curved part 29, whichis the part that has undergone the deformation.

In this example this deformation is in a direction parallel to thetransverse axis Y, with the result that this curved part 29 has acylindrical shape the generatrices of which are parallel to thatdirection.

According to one embodiment of the invention and as here, there isinitially formed in the plate intended to form the support 20 an oblongthrough-hole 50 extending in a principal direction K. After deformation,this oblong hole 50 forms a referencing element with two portions havinga first portion 51 arranged in the wall formed by the second part 22 anda second portion 52 arranged in the first part 21, here in the wallformed by the first part 21. Because of this, each of the portions 51,52 forms a hole passing through each of these parts. This oblong hole istherefore continuous and extends from the first part 22 to the secondpart 21 via the curved part 29.

Because of this, the second part 22 comprises a referencing elementhereinafter termed the referencing element 50 with two portions.

According to this example, the first portion 51 therefore extendslengthwise along a first of the three given axes, namely in this examplethe vertical axis Z.

According to the invention, as in this example, the principal directionK is oriented along an axis parallel to a second of the three givenaxes, namely in this example the longitudinal axis X.

According to the invention, the edges 53a and 53b of this first portion51 of this oblong hole 50 can form transverse abutments, enablingreferencing with respect to a third of the three given axes. This istherefore the case in this example, where this third given axis is thetransverse axis Y. The oblong hole 50 therefore forms a referencingelement with respect to the third given axis, here the transverse axisY.

According to the invention, as in the example shown, the first surface23 can also comprise a printed circuit 15 to which the LED 11 isconnected, for example, as here, by soldered leads 17.

In this example, the LED 11 is mounted directly on a portion of thesupport 20 at a distance from the printed circuit 15. This is withoutlimitation however. In effect, the LED can alternatively be positioneddirectly on the printed circuit.

This first part 21 also comprises lateral tongues 34 arranged on eitherside of the longitudinal axis X. Each of these tongues 34 is coplanarwith the part of the first surface 23 supporting the printed circuit 15.

These tongues 34 comprise front edges 36 in the same plane perpendicularto the longitudinal axis X. Because of this, these front edges 36 formreferencing means with respect to the longitudinal axis X, allowingdegrees of freedom along the transverse axis Y and the vertical axis Z.

Moreover, the surface of these tongues oriented on the side of thesecond part 22, which is part of the first surface 23, comprise bosses39. These bosses 39 can be produced by pressing, for example. In thisexample, these bosses 39 project from the first surface 23.

These bosses 39 each have a summit. All of these summits are arranged inthe same plane. That plane is perpendicular to the vertical axis Z.Because of this, these summits form referencing elements with respect tothe vertical axis Z, allowing degrees of freedom in movement along thelongitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y

These bosses 39 can, as in this example, be distributed in the followingmanner: a front boss on each of the two lateral tongues and a rear bosson each of the two lateral tongues. This therefore improves stability invertical referencing.

According to the invention, and as in this example, these bosses 39 canbe elongate in a direction parallel to the second given axis, here thetransverse axis Y. Each summit forming a line parallel to the secondgiven axis Y. This further improves vertical referencing.

The second part 22 also comprises first and second fixing holes 56 and57. The second part 22 and the part 21 are also shaped to include fins37 encouraging heat dissipation and therefore cooling of the LED 11 andthe electronic components 14 on the printed circuit 15.

When the support is on the production line, the image captured by avideo camera with the optical axis of the objective arranged along thevertical axis Z is as shown in FIG. 4 .

As can be seen in this FIG. 4 , the first portion 51 of the oblong hole50 is not visible. In effect it is aligned with the vertical axis Z andin particular aligned with the wall formed by the second part 22.

However, the second portion 52 is visible. What is more, it can be seenthat it extends in the direction K parallel to the longitudinal axis X.Therefore, in the image captured by the video camera, image processingmeans can easily identify the referencing elements with respect to thelongitudinal axis X, namely here the front edges 36, the referencingelements with respect to the vertical axis Z, namely here the bosses 39,but also the referencing element with respect to the transverse axis Y,namely the oblong hole 50, thanks to its second portion 52.

It follows that means for processing these images will easily identifythe positioning zone for the LED 11 relative to the three given axes X,Y, Z.

Because of this it will be easy to control accurately a robotpositioning this LED 11.

This is particularly suitable for the situation where the LED 11 ismounted by a pick and place process. This pick and place processcomprises the action of placing the LED 11 by a movement in translationtoward the positioning zone, here a movement in translation along thevertical axis Z. It follows that with a video camera and control meansit is possible to mount the LED by simply picking and placing itaccurately relative to the various referencing elements 50, 39, 36 ofthe support.

These referencing elements 50, 39, 36 enable referencing of the support20 relative to complementary referencing elements 61, 64, 35 included inthe light-emitting device 1. Accordingly, the supports 20, 20′, 20″ ofthe light source 11 will be positioned accurately relative to theshaping optics 30, 30′, 30″ of the light-emitting device 1.Consequently, the light source 11 will be positioned accurately relativeto the shaping optics 30, 30′, 30″.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the three reflectors 30, 30′, 30″ areformed on the plate 46.

This plate 46 comprises means 45 for fixing it to the housing of thelight-emitting device 1, some of which are adapted to enable adjustmentof the orientation of this plate 46 during use of the light-emittingdevice in the vehicle.

The reflecting surfaces of the reflectors 30, 30′, 30″ have differentshapes so that the light rays from each reflector form elementary lightbeams with different photometrics. These elementary light beams togetherform the general light beam emitted by the light-emitting device 1.

However some reflectors, such as in this example the left-hand reflector30″ and the central reflector 30, can be adapted to receive from the LEDlight rays of identical power and in identical positions relative to thereferencing elements of the support that carries them. The light sourcesupports of these reflectors 30, 30″ can therefore be interchanged.

Also, other reflectors, as in this example the right-hand reflector 30′and the central reflector 30, can be adapted to receive from the LEDlight rays of different powers and/or in different positions relative tothe referencing elements of the support that carries them. The lightsource supports of these reflectors 30, 30′ must therefore not beinterchanged.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 , to mount the support relative to thereflector the transverse tongues 34 of the support 20, 20′, 20″ areinserted in slideways 32.

In this example, each of the reflectors 30, 30′, 30″ comprises at therear a projection 61 extending from the inactive face 30b of thereflectors 30, 30′, 30″ along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axisX. This projection 61 penetrates into the interior of the first portion51 of the oblong hole 50. Because of this, the support 20, 20′, 20″ isfree to slide along the slideways 32 when positioning it at the level ofthe corresponding reflector 30, 30′, 30″. Moreover, this first portion51 of the oblong hole 50 extends along the vertical axis Z. It istherefore possible to adjust the support with respect to the verticalaxis Z relative to this projection 61 before the bosses 39 are insertedinto the slideways 32.

Each of the slideways 32 comprises an entry 63, these slideways 32 beingoriented transversely, i.e. the latter comprise sliding walls 64 againstwhich the tongues 34 and the summits of the bosses 39 of the support 20,20′, 20″ can slide.

At the end of each slideway 32, and therefore in this example at thefront of each of the latter, is arranged an end 35 in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. Accordingly whenmounting the support 20, 20′, 20″ on the plate 46 the tongues 34 arefirst inserted inside the slideways 32 via the corresponding entry 63(to clarify the figures only one entry carries a reference).

Here these slideways 32 are oriented along an axis parallel to thelongitudinal axis X. The sliding of the support 20, 20′, 20″ and inparticular of these tongues 34 inside the slideways 32 is therefore amovement in longitudinal translation.

This being so, the bosses 39 situated at the front on the tongues 34 arethen inserted in these slideways 32 and come into contact with thesliding walls 64.

Then the bosses 39 located at the rear on the tongues 34 in turn enterthe interior of the slideways 32. In a concomitant or offset manner, theprojection 61 enters into the interior of the first portion 51 of theoblong hole 50. This being so, as sliding continues, the projection 61continues to traverse the second portion transversely to the plateforming the second part 22.

The front edges 36 then come into contact with the end 35 of each ofthese slideways 32. Referencing with respect to the longitudinal axis Xis therefore provided because of this contact in a vertical planesubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

Likewise, the bosses 39 being inside the slideways 32 and the slidingwalls 64 being in a plane substantially perpendicular to the verticalaxis Z, the contact of the summits of these bosses 39 with these slidingwalls provides referencing with respect to the vertical axis Z.

Moreover, the projection 61 is such that at its end of travel itslateral edges come into contact with the lateral edges 53a, 53b of thefirst portion 61 of the oblong hole 50. Because of this, the areas ofthis projection 61 in contact with the lateral edges 53a, 53b arealigned along a transverse axis Y. This therefore provides referencingwith respect to this transverse axis Y.

Accordingly, at the end of sliding the whole of the supports 20, 20′,20″ and therefore the light sources are positioned relative to thecorresponding reflectors 30, 30′, 30″.

According to one embodiment of the invention, for example as shown, thereferencing elements enable mounting by sliding in slideways toreference this support. In the example shown, this mounting isfacilitated.

This mounting also enables simple positioning of the LED on its supportbefore mounting the latter in the light-emitting device, using asmarkers the referencing elements of the support, without adding othermarkers or other referencing elements.

According to the invention, each reflector 30, 30′, 30″ can comprise astud 62 extending longitudinally from its inactive surface 30b. The stud62 is arranged so that when the referencing elements 50, 39, 36 are incontact with the complementary referencing elements 61, 64, 35 the stud62 is in contact with the first fixing hole 56. It then suffices toscrew a screw 33 through this first fixing hole 56 and into the stud 62to fix the support 20, 20′, 20″ firmly to the reflector. The shapes ofthe support with two transverse parts and the slideways reinforce thispressing.

A lug 62, 62′ can also extend longitudinally from the inactive face ofeach reflector 30, 30′. At the end of positioning this lug is clickedinto the second fixing hole 57. This lug 62, 62′ is adapted to retain anelectrical wiring loom supplying power to the LED of the supports 20,20′ and 20″ and connecting the latter to a general electrical wiringloom inside the housing 1, this general electrical wiring loom beingintended to be connected to the battery of the vehicle.

According to the invention, to prevent the risk of interchanging thesupports of some reflectors, here the supports 20, 20″ associated withthe central reflector 30 or the left-hand reflector 30″ with that 20′ ofthe right-hand reflector 30′, the positions of the fixing holes 56, 57and the first portion 51 in the second part can be different in thesesupports. For example and as shown, between the second part 22 of thesupport 20 associated with the center reflector 30 and the second part22′ of the support 20′ associated with the right-hand reflector 30′these positions are reversed, i.e. symmetrical with respect to a plane,here a longitudinal plane. Because of this the second portion 52 is onthe left in the second part 51′ of the support 20′ associated with theright-hand reflector 30′ and on the right in the second part 51 of thesupport 20 associated with the central reflector 30.

According to the invention and as here, the first portion 51, 51′ of theoblong hole 50, 50′ can comprise a constriction 54, 54′ situated betweenor at the level of the end of this first portion 51, 51′ nearest thesecond portion 52, i.e. at the top in the position mounted in thelight-emitting device 1. This constriction makes it possible to preventthe projection 61, 61′ extending from the first portion 51, 51′ to thesecond portion 52.

In this example, the support 20, 20′, 20″ can comprise an orifice 38through which passes a connector 16 connected to the printed circuit 15.In FIG. 5 can be seen the connecting tracks 18 passing through the hole38 in order to be connected to the connector 16, not shown in FIG. 5 .

This connector 16 is adapted to receive a connector 40 on a power supplycable 41.

To facilitate sliding, a gap 31 can be provided between the reflector 30and the zone for the first part 21 to pass through.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A support for a light source of a lightingdevice of a motor vehicle, comprising: a support comprising a sheet ofmetal having an oblong hole therein, the sheet of metal having a bend toprovide a first surface and a second surface that is oriented on a sideof the first surface and is transverse to the first surface; a zone forpositioning the a light source of the lighting device, the zone having araised mounting surface that is raised with respect to the first surfaceand configured to mount the light source directly on the zone, andreferencing elements with respect to three given mutually transverseaxes, wherein a first one of the referencing elements that is areferencing element with two portions, comprising: a first portion ofthe oblong hole extending along or parallel to a first given axis of thethree given axes such that the first portion is on the first surface,and a second portion of the oblong hole extending transversely relativeto the first given axis such that the second portion is on the secondsurface, wherein a connection portion the oblong hole is positioned onthe bend and extends contiguously between the first portion and thesecond portion,; and at least one of a plurality of complementaryreferencing elements coupled to the first portion, and the first portionis wider than the connection portion and the second portion of the firstone of the referencing elements to limit movement of the at least one ofa plurality of complementary referencing elements to the first portionone of the referencing elements.
 2. The support according to claim 1,further comprising: a first surface extending transversely relative tothe first given axis and comprising said second portion and saidpositioning zone, and a second surface that is oriented on a side of thefirst surface, is transverse to the first surface, extends along orparallel to the first given axis and comprises said first portion. 3.The support light emitting device according to claim 2 1, comprising awall comprising the second surface, the first portion being a recessformed in the wall and opening onto the second surface.
 4. The supportlight emitting device according to claim 2 1, wherein the first surfacefurther comprises the other referencing elements.
 5. The supportaccording to claim 2, wherein the first surface and the second surfacejoin via a bent or curved surface portion, said referencing element withtwo portions being a hole straddling the first and second surfaces, apart of the hole on the first surface forming said second portion ofsaid referencing element with two portions and a part of the hole on thesecond surface forming said first portion of said referencing elementwith two portions.
 6. The support light emitting device according toclaim 2 1, further wherein the sheet of metal comprising: a first partin the form of a plate and comprising the first surface, and a secondpart in the form of a plate comprising the second surface, the twoplates being transverse to each other.
 7. The support light emittingdevice according to claim 6, wherein the first part further comprises atleast three bosses forming a second referencing element comprising aplurality of projections on the first surface, a summit top of each ofthe at least three bosses plurality of projections being coplanar in aplane substantially perpendicular to said first given axis.
 8. Thesupport light emitting device according to claim 6, wherein the supportis produced by deformation of a the sheet of metalcomprising arectilinear oblong hole extending along its length, the deformationbeing effected around a given direction perpendicular to this length inan area of said oblong hole.
 9. The support light emitting deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the three given axes are orthogonal to oneanother.
 10. The support light emitting device according to claim 1,wherein the light source is fixed to the positioning zone, the lightsource being a light-emitting light source.
 11. A vehicle Thelight-emitting device comprising: at least one support according toclaim 1, further comprising at least one shaping opticand, wherein saidplurality of complementary referencing elements are adapted to be incontact with the referencing elements of the support, so that theshaping optic receives most of the light rays emitted by the lightsource and diverts them to form a given photometric beam.
 12. Thelight-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein said plurality ofcomplementary referencing elements comprise a projection extendinglengthwise along or parallel to a second of the three given axes, termedsaid second given axis, said referencing element with two portions ofthe support being a hole in the support, the projection extending intothis hole and having zones of contact with edges of the hole, the zonesof contact being on either side of the projection and aligned in adirection parallel to a third of the three given axis, termed the thirdgiven axis.
 13. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, whereinsaid plurality of complementary referencing elements comprise alignedslideways along or parallel to said second given axis, and the supportfurther comprises tongues accommodated in the slideways and adapted toslide in the slideways.
 14. The light-emitting device according to claim13, wherein the slideways comprise an end lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said second given axis, and wherein the supportincludes the tongues each having an edge extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said second given axis and in contact with one of theends.
 15. The light-emitting device according to claim 14, in which thesupport comprises at least three bosses distributed over the tongues andthe slideways comprise sliding walls extending between an entry and theend of each of the slideways, the sliding walls being substantiallyperpendicular to said first given axis and oriented toward an interiorof the slideway, each boss having a summit, each of the summits beingcoplanar in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first givenaxis, each of the summits of each of the bosses being in contact withthe sliding walls.
 16. The support according to claim 3, wherein thefirst surface comprises the other referencing elements.
 17. The supportaccording to claim 3, wherein the first surface and the second surfacejoin via a bent or curved surface portion, said referencing element withtwo portions being a hole straddling the first and second surfaces, apart of the hole on the first surface forming said second portion ofsaid referencing element with two portions and a part of the hole on thesecond surface forming said first portion of said referencing elementwith two portions.
 18. The support according to claim 3, furthercomprising: a first part in the form of a plate and comprising the firstsurface, and a second part in the form of a plate comprising the secondsurface, the two plates being transverse to each other.
 19. The supportaccording to claim 7, wherein the support is produced by deformation ofa sheet of metal comprising a rectilinear oblong hole extending alongits length, the deformation being effected around a given directionperpendicular to this length of said oblong hole.
 20. The supportaccording to claim 2, wherein the three given axes are orthogonal to oneanother.
 21. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a second one of the referencing elements which comprises aplurality of raised features each extending from the first surface alongor parallel to the first given axis of the three given axes.
 22. Thelight-emitting device according to claim 21, wherein the plurality ofraised features of the first referencing element are spacers integrallyformed with said support.
 23. The light-emitting device according toclaim 11, wherein the shaping optic is a reflector.
 24. Thelight-emitting device according to claim 23, wherein the at least one ofa plurality of complementary referencing elements is integrally formedwith the reflector.
 25. The light emitting device according to claim 1,further comprising a plurality of heat dissipating wings extendingorthogonal to at least one of the first and second surfaces of thesupport.
 26. The light emitting device according to claim 25, whereinthe plurality of heat dissipating wings comprise: at least one firstheat dissipating wing extending orthogonal to the first surface of thesupport, and at least one second heat dissipating wing extendingorthogonal to the second surface of the support.